| Under new EU legislation from the 1st October | | | | of a building designed to be used independently or |
| 2008, when buildings are to be rented out, the | | | | separately. An EPC is not required, for each |
| landlord is responsible for ensuring a valid | | | | individual room. However, an EPC will be required |
| certificate is made available to all prospective | | | | on the whole building if it sold, rented or |
| tenants. So you act ahead of the game and | | | | constructed. It will also be required on |
| commission an EPC from a domestic energy | | | | self-contained units within the hall, e.g. a |
| assessor, but what do you do with it now. I hear | | | | self-contained caretaker's flat, if this is sold, rented |
| you ask how and when should I supply the | | | | or constructed. |
| Energy Performance Certificate? | | | | These are great to compare your individual |
| The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and | | | | circumstances with to gauge your new upcoming |
| recommendation report must be made available | | | | obligations. If in doubt there is a new EPC helpline |
| free of charge by the seller or a landlord to a | | | | that has been recently established tel no. 0845 |
| prospective buyer or tenant at the earliest | | | | 3652468. |
| opportunity and no later than: | | | | Many landlords are taking a proactive approach |
| - when any written information about the building | | | | towards commissioning Energy Performance |
| is provided in response to a request for | | | | Certificates for their properties and not waiting to |
| information received from the prospective buyer; | | | | the last minute which could mean longer periods |
| or | | | | without tenants due to the EPC being required |
| - when a viewing is conducted; or | | | | before marketing can commence. |
| - if neither of those occur, before entering into a | | | | Within each Energy Performance Certificate there |
| contract to sell or let. | | | | will often be recommendations of energy |
| An energy performance certificate does not have | | | | efficiency improvements which correlate with the |
| to be made available if: | | | | Landlord Energy Saving allowance (LESA ) |
| - the seller believes that the prospective buyer or | | | | scheme. This scheme is a taxable allowance for |
| tenant is unlikely to have sufficient funds to | | | | energy efficient improvements. Landlords are able |
| purchase or rent the property or is not genuinely | | | | to apply for energy efficiency grants/allowances |
| interested in buying or renting that type of | | | | and have been able to since the Landlord's Energy |
| property; or | | | | Saving Allowance (LESA) scheme was introduced |
| - the seller or landlord is unlikely to be prepared to | | | | on 6th April 2004 and then later expanded upon. |
| sell or rent out the property to the prospective | | | | The improvements that Landlords can make |
| buyer or tenant (although this does not authorize | | | | through the energy saving allowance; will in most |
| unlawful discrimination) | | | | cases have a direct positive impact on the energy |
| However, there are certain circumstances where | | | | efficiency rating of the Energy Performance |
| EPCs are not needed or must be obtained to a | | | | Certificate. Of course, the energy saving |
| greater degree than one would have initially | | | | measures would need to be put in place prior to |
| imagined. The following are scenarios given as | | | | the assessment taking place for this to be |
| examples by the department of Communities and | | | | evidenced on the EPC. However, some EPC |
| Local Government (DCLG). | | | | providers do offer a pre-assessment and |
| Case study 1 | | | | assessment service. This enables landlords to |
| A house or flat is rented by a number of tenants | | | | make improvements based on the Energy |
| who have exclusive use of their bedrooms but | | | | Performance Certificate recommendations and |
| share a kitchen and bathroom. In this case each | | | | receive additional certification reflecting these |
| tenant has a contract with the landlord for the | | | | upgrades to the property. |
| parts they have access to, but not for a whole | | | | The Landlord Energy Saving Allowance (LESA) |
| dwelling. An EPC is therefore not required each | | | | allows individual landlords (and other landlords who |
| time a tenant moves, although one will be | | | | pay income tax) who let residential property to |
| required for the whole house if it is sold, rented | | | | claim a deduction in their income tax bill. This |
| as a whole or constructed. | | | | allowance allows landlords to claim back up to |
| Case study 2 | | | | £1,500 per property for installing energy |
| A group of friends rent a property and there is a | | | | efficient measures and is available until 2015. |
| single contract between the landlord and the | | | | You are currently entitled to claim for the |
| group as the contract is for the rental of a whole | | | | following measures: |
| dwelling. An EPC is required for the whole dwelling. | | | | - loft insulation |
| In this case, a dwelling is taken to be a domestic | | | | - cavity wall insulation |
| building which is either the whole of the building or | | | | - solid wall insulation |
| a part altered or designed for separate use. | | | | - draught proofing |
| Case study 3 | | | | - hot water system insulation |
| Individual tenants rent rooms in a hall of residence. | | | | - floor insulation. |
| Each room does not constitute a building or part | | | | |